Chapter 617 - Meeting

Agata couldn't say anything after reading that note. 

On the other hand, Theo was curious as to how far Nella was being controlled. He still remembered how Nella was so agile every time they met to the point she could sneak in a message back in the Grand Gaia Competition's banquet. 

Seeing that she managed to do it perfectly while being controlled, Nella must still have a portion of her consciousness. So, Theo wanted to know more about the situation to see whether he really needed to kill Nella or not in a life and death situation.

Of course, if such a thing wasn't necessary, he would be happy to play along. After all, Nella was one of the few people that had yet to lie to him. Although her ambition was weird, he could still trust her.

Even though he didn't want to have anything to do with the Griffith Family, knowing Nella and getting along as an individual was more than welcome. 

That was why he felt bad to see what he expected had come. 

Theo shook his head helplessly and said, "Anyway, we shouldn't stay here. Let's move out." 

The group nodded their heads as Lorenzo took another look at the map and pointed at the northwest. "Anyway, it's this direction."

"Let's go." Theo glanced at Luka, signaling it was his time.

"Tsk. I will help you this time." Luka clapped his hands as the wind began to form around their feet, blowing all the snow away. 

Without the snow, Luka could place his hand on the ground and use his skill. "Whirlwind. All of you better not make any unnecessary movements."

After using this technique, the wind started to revolve underneath them and expanded into a tornado that somehow bent after a certain height, carrying them to the direction Lorenzo pointed at earlier. 

Theo utilized his Telekinesis to blow the cold air away, allowing the group to travel at a fast speed without freezing. 

It took them only a few seconds before they found an igloo in the middle of nowhere. 

However, Theo's eyes were not locked on it first. Instead, he was staring at the Dark Poison Swamp they were going to infiltrate after this. 

He could see two-color gas permeating the air continuously, enveloping the region.

According to the information, the gas came out of the ground and water, making this place uninhabitable to all creatures except for poison-based creatures.

As if noticing Theo's gaze, Agata said, "On a normal day, it's far denser than that. I don't think you can survive even if you bring all the antidotes."

"Yeah. Luckily, the poisonous gas in this place has color. The most dangerous one is usually odorless and colorless after all." Theo nodded with a serious expression.

"Agreed." Lorenzo joined their conversation and reminded them they were going to meet their partner. 

Russia's team seemed to have felt their presence, so all of them were coming out in succession.

Luka then bent his tornado again, allowing them to land on the ground safely as the residual of the wind pushed all the snow to give them a small platform to stand on.

"Welcome, welcome." A white-haired woman waved her hand with a smile. Her white eyes intertwined with Lorenzo as a smile appeared on her face. "It's been a while, eh, Young Master Lorenzo?"

"There's no need for such an honorific." Lorenzo shook his head. "We're cooperating on equal ground, so there's no need to be polite."

"Oh, I appreciate it." She smiled. "I will take your offer and talk casually then."

Theo, next to him, was staring at her before noticing the blonde woman that stood behind Afanasiia. 

The latter also noticed him and nodded. She didn't openly show their relationship, considering it would be rude to Afanasiia. 

Afanasiia had yet to look at Theo as she said, "Anyway, we will be relying on your Teleportation Ability in order to be the first one to grab them."

"Sure. Though, I just want to tell you one thing. The one who comes up with the plan is not me." Lorenzo smiled. 

"Oh?" She narrowed her eyes and turned to Theo, thinking he would be the best option other than Lorenzo. "Hello, my name is Afanasiia. It's a bit hard to pronounce and long, so just call me Ana."

"It's my pleasure." Theo nodded his head. 

"I will be counting on you then."

"Yes."

Ana's heart started racing as she never expected that Theo only answered with the shortest line possible, making the atmosphere awkward. 

So, she changed her strategy. "You were from the same team as my partner here, right? I saw you on the Grand Gaia."

She glanced at Alea as if signaling her to come out.

Alea made an awkward smile while scratching the back of her head. She ended up waving her hand to Theo and said, "It's been a while, Theo."

"Indeed." Theo nodded calmly.

"Well, I guess the reunion can be postponed. We first need to see whether he's capable or not. After all, his track record is too shallow for us to believe in him." A guy stepped forward. 

Everyone stopped for a second and turned their heads, looking at the one who blurted out such a remark. 

It was Zhilov.

"Ho? Did you just say that he's incompetent?" Lorenzo frowned as he took this personally. 

"I am not." Zhilov shrugged his shoulders. "Unlike you, whose track record is long and can be trusted, we only have little to no information about him. There are only the Grand Gaia Competition and the War God Family's yearly competition. 

"His strategy is good, but commanding us is not that easy. We have twelve members in total and don't have any experience in working together." Zhilov explained, trying to be as reasonable as possible. 

"Y—" Before Lorenzo said something, Theo stopped him and said, "I have no intention in making us cooperate with each other in a fight. You do you. You said I'm not trustworthy… Such a coincidence… I can say the same word to you."

Zhilov's expression turned cold as he asked while frowning. "What did you say?"

"Do I need to repeat it? Well, I guess I should put it in a simple word. Don't drag me down, Mr.. Incompetent."